The NS Class 1500 locomotives were built by British Railways for the Manchester Sheffield Woodhead electrification. Known as EM2's the entire class of 7 were bought by NS which refurbished 6 of them for service in the Netherlands. They were finally withdrawn in 1986 and three are preserved, two in the UK and one in Holland.

Photo by Paul Rowlinson

Technical Details

Built:-

1954(formerly worked on the Manchester – Sheffield Line via Woodhead)

Traction Motors

6 Metropolitan – Vickers MV 146 axel – hung.

Continuous Rating

1932 kW (2590 hp )

Weight in full working order

98 tonnes

Max. Tractive Effort

200 kN (45000 lbf)

Length over buffers

18.10 m. ( 59’ 4⅝” )

Driving Wheel dia

1092 mm ( 3’ 7” )

Max. speed

135 km/h ( note that this is the NS maximum, and on BR they were limited to 90 mph.)

No 1505 shown here at Rotterdam South yard on the final farewell tour. Photo by Paul Rowlinson

Another shot of all participating locomotives on the farewell tour. Photo by Paul Rowlinson

Close up of Electra's nameplate. Photo by Robert Palmer

1502 by Robert Palmer

This photo by De Spoorplaat shows the orignnal BR livery for the class. This is 27003 at Bad Bentheim - date unknown